diff --git a/lib/savon/client.rb b/lib/savon/client.rb
index 86eacc07..9317c4a3 100644
--- a/lib/savon/client.rb
+++ b/lib/savon/client.rb
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def preconfigure(options)
       soap.endpoint = wsdl.endpoint
       soap.namespace_identifier = options[0]
       soap.namespace = wsdl.namespace
-      soap.body = options[2].delete :body
+      soap.body = options[2].delete(:body) if options[2][:body]
       
       set_soap_action options[1]
       set_soap_input *options